Online travel bookings have increased the availability of travel opportunities, but sorting through discounts is a daunting task. With so many options, you can spend all of your time searching for the cheapest airfare or hotel room. Do your research and plan ahead to get the best chance of receiving a discounted flight, room, car rental or tour package.

A La Carte Airfares
Airlines now offer customers a service that is referred to as a la carte for purchasing airplane tickets at a discounted price. This means that you are able to pay for only services that you use, such as snacks, meals and customer service. With this service, you are theoretically going to pay less for your flight. However, according to Smarter Travel staff reporter Sarah Pascarella's research of test-case scenarios, you may pay significantly more by going the a la carte route. You also end up paying more for fewer services that are included in the less expensive base fare price. In some cases, you could be paying approximately $50 more with the a la carte program. One way to receive airfare discounts without the hassle of deciding between a la carte and base fare is to go with airlines that offer cheaper service on a regular basis. As of 2010, JetBlue and Southwest offer minimal fees associated with checked baggage. JetBlue will let you check one bag for free, and Southwest will not charge for two checked bags.

Using Social Media
Social networking sites, such as Foursquare, Twitter, Facebook and Loopt, offer travelers information on discounts for hotels, airfare and tour packages. Receive information on sales and travel perks through social networking. Find discounts that are promoted from travel companies by following them in Twitter or choosing to "like" their pages on Facebook. Doing so provides you insider access to the latest travel discounts. Deals are published from travel companies, and industry players publicize the latest travel news. Follow travel publications or columnists in the travel industry to find out the latest insider information regarding travel advice and discounts from travel professionals.

Negotiate With Hotels
Negotiating for hotel rooms and amenities seems to have gone to the wayside since the popularity of online booking has escalated. However, according to Clark Howard of Cox Media Group, while a third of travelers will negotiate for a cheaper rate at a hotel, 80 percent of these travelers are successful. Start by searching for the average hotel rate listed on online booking sites, such as Expedia or Hotwire. Use this information to make an offer of at least 20 percent less through another booking agency, either online or over the telephone. Use Priceline when you are negotiating for a cheaper rate, as this booking company has a service that allows you to name your own price. If you are negotiating in person or over the phone, ask to speak to the shift manager who will be the person authorized to give you a discount.